1.5.2. Design Goals

The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

Design Goals: • Avoid segregation or stigmatization of any users. • Provide the same means of use for all users — identical whenever possible; equivalent when not. • Ensure privacy, security, and safety are equally available to all users.

Equitable Use is about ensuring that designs cater to everyone, regardless of their abilities. The goals here emphasize eliminating any separation that might occur due to differing abilities. For example, achieving identical access means creating a space where everyone can enter without special treatment. Providing equivalent means of use refers to ensuring that if an identical means isn't possible, a suitable alternative is presented, ensuring that nobody is left out. In addition, everyone's privacy, security, and safety should be considered, allowing for a space where all users feel protected and secure.

Imagine a public building with a single entrance that has an automatic door. This allows people using wheelchairs as well as those who walk to enter without anyone needing to assist them. This not only enhances the experience for all but also avoids any feelings of segregation or dependency among users.

The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

Design Goals: • Provide choice in methods of use. • Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use. • Facilitate user accuracy and precision. • Adapt to the user’s pace.

Flexibility in Use ensures that designs are adaptable to various individual preferences and needs. This can mean providing different methods for using a product or service so that users can choose what works best for them. For instance, a design can accommodate both left-handed and right-handed users, allowing for ease of access regardless of which hand a person prefers to use. Additionally, designs should allow users to interact with them at their own pace, and help ensure accuracy, making tasks less challenging.

Consider an ATM machine that has a tactile keypad for people who may be visually impaired, alongside audio prompts. This design is flexible as it accommodates individuals with varying abilities, enabling them to interact with the machine comfortably, whether they are right-handed or left-handed.

Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

Design Goals: • Eliminate unnecessary complexity. • Be consistent with user expectations and intuition. • Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills. • Provide feedback to the user.

This goal focuses on making designs user-friendly and intuitive, which means they should be straightforward, allowing for uncomplicated navigation and understanding. This requires stripping away unnecessary complexity and ensuring consistency, aligning with general user expectations. Feedback is also critical, as it allows users to know their actions are registered and lets them adjust accordingly.

Imagine a common use case of traffic signals. A simple pedestrian crossing signal features universally recognizable pictograms, such as a walking figure or a red hand, making it clear when one can cross the street. This simplicity assists people from various backgrounds, enhancing understanding regardless of their familiarity with traffic systems.

The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

Design Goals: • Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information. • Provide adequate contrast between essential information and surroundings. • Maximize legibility of essential information. • Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions).

Perceptible Information is about ensuring all users can access and understand critical information. This involves using multiple modes of communication—like visuals, sounds, and textures—so that even if one mode is not accessible, others are available. Good contrasting visuals also help the information stand out, ensuring everyone, including those with visual impairments, can understand it.

An example of excellent perceptible information is emergency exit signs in a building. These signs are often illuminated and can be seen from afar, with tactile features for those who cannot see. They use clear visuals and contrasting colors to ensure that all individuals can navigate towards safety in emergencies.

The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

Design Goals: • Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors. • Provide warnings of hazards and errors. • Provide fail-safe features. • Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance.

This goal is focused on reducing the risks associated with user mistakes. By arranging elements thoughtfully and providing clear warnings, designers can proactively minimize errors that could lead to accidents. Incorporating fail-safe features is also essential, creating safety nets that can protect users even when mistakes happen.

Think about the design of electrical outlets. Many outlets are now designed with safety features such as child-proof sockets that only allow the insertion of plugs in certain orientations. This design minimizes the risk of electrical shocks, showcasing how such principles keep all users safe, regardless of their experience with electrical devices.

The design can be used efficiently and comfortably, with a minimum of fatigue.

Design Goals: • Allow user to maintain a neutral body position. • Use reasonable operating forces. • Minimize repetitive actions. • Minimize sustained physical effort.

Low Physical Effort is about designing tools and spaces in a way that they are easy to use with minimal exertion. This goal suggests that designs should allow users to stay in comfortable positions and make it easy to accomplish tasks with minimal stress on their bodies.

An example of this principle can be seen in lever-style door handles, which require just a gentle push rather than a strong twist. This design caters to all users, including those who may have decreased hand strength due to age or injury.

Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

Design Goals: • Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user. • Make reach to all components comfortable for all users. • Accommodate variations in hand and grip size. • Provide adequate space for assistive devices or personal assistance.

This goal emphasizes the importance of providing sufficient physical space and dimensions in design work. Designs should cater to users of different heights and abilities, ensuring that everyone can reach and utilize all features comfortably. It also highlights the need for enough room around elements to accommodate assistive devices.

For instance, consider a public restroom designed to be fully accessible with ample space for wheelchair maneuverability. It could feature grab bars that are comfortably within reach and fixtures aligned to appropriate heights, making the restroom accessible to individuals irrespective of their mobility.

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